Rebekah Woodburn

Bek has had a love of oysters from early childhood, eating oysters on Apalachicola Bay every summer growing up. It wasn’t until they joined the Professional Science Masters program in Ocean Food Systems through the University of New England that they learned of the many ecosystem services provided by oysters and fostered a true appreciation of oysters and aquaculture. Bek grew up in Dublin, Georgia before earning their bachelors degree in molecular biology from Eckerd College in Florida where they majorly nerded out in class and spent most of their time outside of class work as a member of the college’s varsity sailing team. After their undergraduate degree, Bek gained a passion for food systems through a volunteer program focused on food justice in Boston, Massachusetts where they coordinated a community garden that provided fresh produce to the neighboring food pantry. Before joining the OSH team, they worked with the State of Florida in the Division of Aquaculture as a part of the Education & Development Program gaining experience in grant management and educating varying age groups about the state’s diverse aquaculture industry. 

Fun Facts about Bek:  

Bek enjoys spending their time outside of the hatchery with their two cats, cross stitching, or hiking and exploring the area!